Montana-made film coming to Polson
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POLSON — “A tense survival saga and disarmingly moving father-son tale.”
Those words describe “Walking Out,” a one-hour, 35-minute film set in the mountains of western Montana.
Brothers Alex and Andrew Smith, who were born in England but raised on a ranch in western Montana, directed the film, which was featured at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, earlier this year.
The film was released Oct. 6, but will begin showing at Polson’s Showboat Theater on Friday and run at least two weeks, according to manager James Bauer.
The movie involves a 14-year-old son who comes from Texas to spend time with his father in the summer. Although estranged, the two are forced to rely on each other to survive during their annual hunting trip. When the father is injured, the son is forced to summon enough strength for both of them.
The movie’s main theme is the son’s search for knowledge. David, the son played by Josh Wiggins, is a modern “plugged-in teenager” who goes on a brutal yet profound journey into the heart of a mountain. Matt Bomer plays David’s father Cal.
Among the questions the film asks are: what sacrifices are necessary for survival and what is the right way to become a man?
The movie has a reverence for the beauty and harsh realities of the mountains.
“Montana is the fourth character in the movie,” Andrew Smith said in a YouTube interview.
The brothers said 28 or 29 days were spent filming in the Treasure State.
The movie is based on naturalist David Quammen’s short story of the same name.
“We read David Quammen’s short story in high school and it had been haunting us for 30 years almost,” Alex Smith said.
IFC Films purchased the rights to the film after its debut at the Sundance Film Festival.
The genres include: adventure, drama, mystery and thriller.
Show times in Polson are: 4, 7 and 9:15 p.m. daily with mid-matinees at 1:15 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday.
